State Agency Waste Management and Recycling

Introduction

As a part of California’s continued commitment to reduce the amount of solid waste entering landfills, state agencies and large state facilities are required to meet waste diversion goals (Strom-Martin, AB 75, Wiggins, SB 1016, Public Resources Code, Sections 42920-42927). The requirements largely mirror what is required for cities, counties, and regional agencies , but do not affect local government obligations under the California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939, Sher, Chapter 1095, Statutes of 1989 as amended). State agencies and large state facilities must adopt integrated waste management plans, implement programs to reduce waste disposal, and have their waste diversion performance annually reviewed by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Additionally, state agencies and large state facilities are required to buy post-consumer recycled content products when making purchases in 11 different categories per the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (Eastin, AB14, AB1106, Public Contract Code, Sections 12153-12217). Buying recycled is critical as it helps create market demand for recycled materials. This requirement complements the efforts of the Integrated Waste Management Act.

Definitions

    • “State Agency” means every office, department, division, board, commission, or other agency of the State of California, including the California Community Colleges and the California State University. The Regents of the University of California are encouraged to implement this division.
    • “Large State Facility” means campuses of the California State University and the California Community Colleges, prisons within the Department of Corrections, facilities of the Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and facilities of other state agencies that CalRecycle determines are primary campuses, prisons, or facilities.

Waste Diversion Requirements for State Agencies and Large State Facilities

State agencies and large state facilities are required to:

    • Divert at least 25 percent of their solid waste from landfills or transformation facilities by Jan 1, 2002, and to divert at least 50 percent on and after Jan 1, 2004, through source reductionrecycling, and composting activities.
    • Designate at least one solid waste reduction and recycling coordinator to oversee integrated waste management plan implementation.
    • Submit an annual report on prior calendar year disposal amounts and diversion activities.

State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign

The State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign (SABRC) requires that every state department, board, commission, office, state universities:

    • Verify the post-consumer recycled content of their product purchase that fall within the reportable categories.
    • Purchase products that contain the required minimum post-consumer content.
    • Submit an annual report that summarizes yearly progress.

CalRecycle’s Role

    • Train, advise, and assist state agency recycling coordinators in meeting solid waste reduction and SABRC requirements.
    • Analyze data from state agency annual reports and provide technical assistance where needed.
    • Connect state agencies with local government contacts to improve waste diversion efforts.
    • Conduct yearly reviews and Biennial Compliance Reviews of state agency waste management reports.
    • Conduct yearly reviews of SABRC reports, and evaluate data for potential opportunities to increase the purchase of post-consumer content products.

Legislation and Statutes

Please refer to the Laws & Regulations page for detailed information.

Legislation:

Statute: Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections

    • PRC 40148, Definition of Large State Facilities
    • PRC 40196.3, Definition of State Agency
    • PRC 42920-42927, Waste Management mandates for State Agencies and Large State Facilities

Additional information is available on our state agencies home page.

For more information contact: Local Assistance & Market Development, LAMD@calrecycle.ca.gov or (916) 341-6199.